One of the best ways to deter negative behaviors is to give students responsibilities. Many teachers have classroom jobs, but I recommend taking this idea to a new level. How about posting jobs in your class with job descriptions and…

This weekend, I came face-to-face with the realization that teachers make a huge difference. I am stating the obvious, but sometimes we need reality to slap us in the face, lest we forget. It has been a busy few days…

The older I get, the more I realize how important the role of rituals play in parenting. It’s true. We are all creatures of habit and I believe the early interactional patterns parents establish with their children can be a…

Ah, yes. One day I will look back at this and laugh. So, why can’t that be today? Ever find yourself just a wee bit frustrated, while those around you (usually children) are terribly amused? Of course, this only adds…

Actions may speak louder than words, but we best not underestimate how the phrases we use shape the language of children. I guess it is a hazard of my profession, but I regularly see and hear the world through the…

Relationships are complicated, and interesting all the same. It seems when interacting with others, we dance between periods of dependence [I need you] and independence [I need to do this myself, so step away]. Of course, our ultimate goal is…

Feelings are normal – and what you do with those feelings can say a lot about both who you are as a person, as well as what you value. When stressed, people often say and do things they shouldn’t. This…

Dads, today I celebrate you as teachers. In fact, I believe it is one of your most important roles. Fathers are always teaching, mostly by example, and most of the time without even knowing they are doing so. In this…

Although this should be of no surprise to you, be aware your children are being exposed to quite an array of real-world behaviors. And these behaviors are quite different from the ones you encountered at their age. This became apparent…

Now that summer has hit, we have the perfect opportunity to teach our children a critical life skill: Problem-Solving. As I told about 300 kindergarten students in the last few weeks: “Adults are not always going to be around to…